Sunday, August 3, 2014

"AMERICA...AN EXCEPTIONAL NATION"

"AMERICA...AN EXCEPTIONAL
NATION"

Never, in my wildest dreams, would I
presume to know everything about any subject on which I speak.Now, having said that, let's see what makes
the United States
an exceptional nation.The old saying
that just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean that
politics won't take an interest in you, is crystal-clear these days.No matter your station in life, it will be
affected in some way, or in many ways, by what the government does...and that
government can be federal, state, county or even the city.You WILL be affected by their decisions.If you didn't believe that you would not be
reading this, or any other politically-motivated discourse.It's no secret that the voters in this
country sometimes make boneheaded choices, and I won't belabor that
point...it's obvious.On the other
hand, they sometimes choose the right person for the wrong reasons!

Speaking out against things is an
inherent right for Americans.We knew
that, way before the schism between the colonists and England turned to war.Americans treasure that right, as free men
and women should.That right, iron-clad
in the Constitution of the United
States' first amendment, is being questioned
by the very government that should be defending it.For decades, Americans have been surrendering
rights, willingly, because they don't know and don't care, about what the
government does.Perhaps, and it's just
a guess on my part, it's because the generations have been inculcated with ideologythat contradicts the tenets of the
country.One can be “branded” with a
label as right-wing, left-wing, radical, conservative, liberal…it doesn’t
really matter because that is probably just one part of the person’s
character.You can be socially liberal,
but fiscally conservative.You can be in
favor a strong armed forces, but against continuing to be the world’s
policeman.

Something else, and it was referred to
just above, is that Americans are

pretty much a
giving people.Is there a disaster
somewhere in the world?We will be on
the job as quickly as possible with whatever the people might need.

Americans will
donate, they will raise money, they will do the work…whatever needs to be done
Americans will do it, and do it willingly.Now, that’s not to say that other countries don’t do it also…but
Americans do it because we are an exceptional nation and we share our
bounty.That was a lesson learned early
on, from the Indians teaching the pilgrims.We share knowledge, especially if it will benefit mankind.

Our Constitution gives us, as
Americans, the right to abolish the government if it is treating us in an
unjust manner.Hmm…don’t get me started
on that subject, but remember that we have that option.The option that is mostly used is the
vote.America is exceptional because we
change governments in a non-revolutionary manner every four, or eight,
years.Very few other countries do that,
and those that do are mostly run by strongmen who make sure they are
re-elected.Along with the right to
speak out, we have freedom of the press.In our technological society that includes all manner of
communications.Are we

using that
right to its fullest advantage?I think
not.

America is, I believe, exceptional
because we have, or used to have, something called The American Dream.One could come from humble beginnings and,
through diligence, become a captain of industry, a world leader, or anything
they wanted, if they applied themselves.We may be losing that, and

that would
distress me greatly.This country is
basically good, basically honest, and with few differences, has been on the
better side of the ledger of character.

America has made mistakes, and admitted them…and
corrected them.We are not a perfect
nation because people are not perfect, and a nation is what its people
are.Warren G. Harding, the 29th
President of the United States,
once said “Liberty…liberty
within the law…and civilization are inseparable.”

Americans are trusting people, by and
large…but they are not stupid.At least
we shouldn’t think they are.Without
mentioning any name, there is a TV commercial playing now, and has been for a
long time, that claims that its clients never lose money, even if the stock
they hold decreases in value!If anyone
believes that a business is going to absorb huge losses without trying to pass
those losses on to the customer, they probably are waiting for the Easter Bunny
or the Tooth Fairy to show up also.Give
me a break!

We are still exceptional.Perhaps a bit less because of the gnawing
away of our freedoms, and the lackadaisical mindset of a lot of us, but not to
the point where it cannot be regained with a little diligence on the part of
the rest of us.To be sure, other
countries are coming along to challenge America economically and, perhaps,
militarily.Are we still a nation of
Minutemen?Will we rise to the
occasion?I believe we will, just as I
believe that America
will continue to be an exceptional nation.We can survive.We MUST survive
because the world needs America.We are the ones the rest of the free world
depends on, but who do we depend on?